Writing about your art isn’t easy—but it’s one of the most important things you can do to clarify your vision and connect with others. In this solo episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield walks you through a comprehensive guide to writing an effective artist statement that truly reflects your work.

You’ll hear why artist statements still matter, how to approach the writing process without getting overwhelmed, and what to avoid in your final draft. She also shares specific journaling prompts to help you uncover what’s most essential about your art—and how to put your finished statement to work for you.

Listen closely for the ultimate test of an artist statement.

Whether you’re revisiting an old statement or writing one for the first time, this episode is packed with guidance and encouragement to help you write with confidence.

00:37 The Importance of an Artist Statement

02:08 Defining an Artist Statement

03:45 The Process is the Point

06:16 Journaling Prompts for Clarity

10:15 7 Rules Every Artist Statement Should Follow

15:00 The Ultimate Test for Your Statement

18:10 Editing Your Artist Statement

21:39 Putting Your Statement to Work for You

24:00 You’ve Got This

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

The artists featured in these episodes discuss how writing coexists alongside their art:

Fostering Clarity and Confidence Through Writing with Samantha Clark (211)

Writing on Substack Can Be Integral to Your Creative Process with Ann Balaam Miller (210)

Producing a Monthly Digital Magazine with Alyson Sheldrake (199)

Imperfect Journaling for Artists with Cynthia Morris (51)

📖 To read the full text and see featured artists, visit: https://artbizsuccess.com/writing-your-artist-statement/

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶  full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Guest: Ruby Lopez Harper, Executive Director of CERF+

In this episode of The Art Biz, Ruby Lopez Harper, executive director for CERF+ (the Craft Emergency Relief Fund) joins host Alyson Stanfield to discuss the vital work CERF+ does to support artists before, during, and after emergencies. As CERF+ celebrates its 40th anniversary, Ruby shares the history of the organization, its spirit of mutual aid, and how it has expanded its services over the years.

Most importantly, Ruby and Alyson want to encourage artists to research, plan, and prepare in order to protect their art businesses—sharing resources to help them get started.

Take Action Today

Ruby encourages all artists to take one step today toward protecting their creative practice—whether it's backing up files, reviewing insurance, or creating an emergency plan. And most importantly, spread the word so that more artists know about CERF+ before they need it.

📖 To read more, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/safeguarding-cerfplus

Highlights

• The Origins of CERF+ :: How a group of artists "passed the hat" to help their peers in times of crisis, and how that spirit continues today.
• Types of Emergencies CERF+ Responds To :: From studio fires, theft, and natural disasters to medical emergencies and caregiving responsibilities.
• Disaster Readiness for Artists :: Key steps artists can take to protect their work and livelihood, including insurance, backup plans, and security measures—by no means a complete list.
• Why All Artists Should Care :: You must think about these things before it’s too late. Don’t believe it could never happen to you.
• Funding and Grant Opportunities :: Immediate relief grants for disaster-stricken artists and the Get Ready Grant, which funds proactive measures to safeguard a studio practice.
• Advocating for Your Safety :: How artists can ask the right questions about security at festivals, galleries, and exhibitions to protect their work.
• CERF+ Resources You Should Know :: The Studio Protector Guide, an artist-focused insurance guide, and educational webinars to help artists prepare for unexpected challenges.
• How to Support CERF+ :: From spreading awareness to donating or organizing fundraising efforts, Ruby shares how artists and art supporters can contribute.

Resources & Links

• CERF+
• Studio Protector Guide
• CERF+ Insurance Guidebook
• National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response (NCAPER)
• Donate to CERF+

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

These episodes feature artists who have overcome low points.

Leaning Into Art to Battle Depression with David Sandum (ep. 169)

Leaning Into Creativity in Times of Pain with Rich Simmons (ep. 112)

Making Art While Grieving Loss with Jan Heaton (ep. 52)

Overcoming a Major Setback: Annie Salness (ep. 16)

📖 To read more, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/safeguarding-cerfplus

⭐️ See CERF+ resources above and follow them on Instagram and YouTube.

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶  full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

👉 This episode was recorded as part of the 3rd edition of Podcasthon. For one week, more than a thousand podcasts around the globe will highlight a charity of their choice. It was my pleasure to call attention to of one of my favorite organizations, CERF+ (the Craft Emergency Relief Fund), which supports artists in need. Please consider donating. You never know when you might need a hand.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

As an artist, you have the freedom to shape your career—but with that freedom comes the challenge of making decisions that align with your goals and values. Decision-making can feel overwhelming, especially when every opportunity seems promising.

In this solo episode of The Art Biz, host Alyson Stanfield breaks down the Artist’s Decision-Making Framework to help you prioritize what truly matters. She shares practical strategies for assessing opportunities, trusting your instincts, and using policies to protect your time and energy.

Alyson discusses:

• Why decision-making is one of the hardest parts of running an art business.
• The Eisenhower Matrix and how it can help you categorize tasks by urgency and importance.
• The power of policies in simplifying your choices and setting clear boundaries.
• Her step-by-step framework for evaluating opportunities, including gut checks, vision alignment, time management, relationship-building, and financial potential.
• A real-life example of how having a pricing policy helped an artist confidently decline a discount request—without losing the sale.

⬇️ Don’t miss the free downloadable PDF of the framework: https://artbizsuccess.com/decision-framework

01:00 The biggest challenge in running your own art business
02:45 The myth of certainty in decision-making
04:00 How the Eisenhower Matrix can clarify your priorities
06:30 The importance of setting clear business policies
08:15 The Artist’s Decision-Making Framework—step-by-step
12:00 Gut-checking opportunities: Does this excite you?
4:20 Aligning choices with your long-term vision
16:45 Assessing time, energy, and availability
19:30 Evaluating relationships and networking potential
22:15 Understanding financial benefits and long-term value
25:00 Making decisions with confidence
28:00 How one artist stuck to their pricing policy and still made the sale
30:45 Final thoughts: Trusting yourself and your process

If this episode resonated with you, share it with an artist friend who could use some decision-making support. And if you want more structured guidance, check out Alyson’s Essentials for Artists Success program at ArtBizSuccess.com/Essentials.

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Guaranteeing an Effective Project with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (ep. 121)

She Knows Exactly How Much Her Art Income Will be with Kelly Pelfrey (ep. 162)

Increasing Self-Sales by 400% with Sarah Becktel (ep. 157)

📖 To read more, see featured artists, and download the free PDF of the framework, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/decision-framework

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶  full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/

Building an art business takes more than just talent—it takes determination, adaptability, and a willingness to keep going, even when success feels out of reach.

Stella and Gemma Stevens, the artists behind Two Faced Twins, know this firsthand. Their work—bold, colorful, and joyful—now has a dedicated following, but their path wasn’t always easy.

For two years, the Stevens twins struggled to sell a single piece. They faced creative differences, self-doubt, and even a gallery robbery. But instead of giving up, they leaned into their vision, their roles as artists, and their belief in what they were building.

In this conversation, host Alyson Stanfield talks with Stella and Gemma about:

• How they transformed sibling disagreements into a creative advantage.
• The strategies that helped them push through early struggles and build momentum.
• The business mindset that keeps them going, including their marketing and expansion efforts.
• How they inspire the next generation of artists through school visits.

One of the biggest takeaways? Determination isn’t just about working hard—it’s about believing in your work and staying the course.

00:35 Meet the Two Faced Twins: Stella and Gemma Stevens 02:20 Creative Process and Artistic Differences 03:39 Overcoming Early Struggles 06:50 Building a Business and Finding Motivation 18:08 The Birth of Two Faced Twins 20:38 Opening a Gallery During COVID 24:21 Family Involvement and Challenges 27:02 Dealing with a Gallery Robbery and the Aftermath 30:54 Income Streams Breakdown 32:38 Balancing Art and Business 34:50 Engaging with the Community 37:12 Promoting Artwork 39:46 School Visits and Their Impact 46:12 Future Plans and Expansion 48:54 The Importance of a Business Mentor 51:17 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

🎧 RELATED EPISODES

Here are a few other episodes that focus on collaborations:

Multiply Your Audience and Expand Your Show’s Impact with Jill Powers (ep. 27)

Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan (ep. 64)

Expanding Your Skillset to Respond to Opportunities with Detour (ep. 128)

A Collaboration Between 2 Artists that Led to Creative Growth (ep. 183)

📖 To read more, see images, find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/two-faced-twins

⭐️ Connect with Stella and Gemma Stevens and see their art: https://twofacedtwins.com

🔶 Does your art business need a boost or a refresh? Please see my comprehensive art-marketing program, Essentials for Artist Success 🔶  full of tools, strategies, and process you need to establish your professionalism and increase your visibility. For those with beginning and emerging art careers and those who need to approach their business with more thought and intention.

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

~ ~ ! ATTENTION INDIGENOUS ARTISTS and BIPOC ARTISTS ! ~ ~

This is an invitation to all Indigenous and BIPOC artists, wherever you are in the world, to share your story here on The Art Biz. Here’s how ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/